Rubber heel.



G. HADJIGH.

RUBBER HEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1909.

961,'346,- Patented June 14,1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HADJ'ICI-I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE OF ONE-FOURTH TO CLARENCE B. SHAFFNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RUBBER HEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HADJIoH, a subject of the King of Servia, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Heels, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved construction for cushion heels having a rotatable wearing section adapted to distribute the wear on the rear of the heel; to provide an improved cushion heel with a self adjusting wearing section having comparatively free movement with respect to the remainder of the heel; and to provide an improved frame structure for rubber heels.

A specific construction embodying this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe showing the heel cushion in position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the main or heel plate. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the means for attaching the rotatable section to the heel plate. Fig. 6 is a detail of the metal base of the rotatable section.

In the device shown, the shoe 1 is preferably provided with a partially built up heel to which the resilient cushion heel is attached.

The cushion heel comprises a main or heel plate 2, shaped to conform to the contour of the heel and provided on its upper surface, or that which abuts against the partial heel, with a layer of rubber or rubber impregnated fabric 3. Said plate is of slightly less width than the heel and it is provided on its lateral edges with downwardly directed flanges 4, which increase in width from the front margin of the plate rearwardly and terminate at a point forwardly of the rear side of the heel. Vulcanized or otherwise secured to the plate 2 is a fixed section 5 of rubber or other suitable material in which said flanges are embedded. Screws 6 are driven through the section 5 and plate 2 and secure the forward end of the cushion heel to the shoe. tion of said section 5 has a circular notch or recess 7 in which the rotatable section 8 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 15, 1909-.

The rear por- Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 528,094.

fits. The thin rear edges of the section 5 are reinforced and supported by the flanges 4 which have forwardly and inwardly extending wings 4 to provide additional strength.

The surface of the plate 2 within the recess is covered with a layer of rubber or frictioned fabric 9, and the circular plate 10, which serves as a base for the rotatable section, is also provided with a layer of rubber or frictioned fabric 11 on its upper surface, and is rotatably secured to the plate 2 by means of a tubular rivet or bushing 12, which extends through said plates and has its ends beaded or swaged over to hold it in place. Vulcanized to said plate 10 is a circular block of rubber 13, which is provided with an aperture 14 in axial alinement with the aperture through said bushing.

A screw 15 having a head of a diameter slightly larger than the aperture 14, is forced into said aperture until its head rests against the end of said bushing and the shank projects through the bushing sufliciently to be firmly engaged to the partial heel of the shoe. The upper end of the bushing 12 is flared to provide a countersunk seat for the head of the screw 15.

The operation of the device shown is as follows: The cushion heel is secured to the shoe by means of the screws 6 and 15, and inasmuch as the head of the screw 15 bears against the lower end of the bushing, said screw may be forced into the partial heel as far as possible without in any way interfering with the freedom of movement of the rotatable section 8. The layers of friction material between said plates produce sufii cient resistance to the rotation to prevent the wearer from slipping.

During the act of walking, the rotatable section usually strikes the floor or other surface at a point slightly to one side of the longitudinal center of the shoe and is caused to rotate slightly, thereby distributing the wear evenly about the edge of said section.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim 1. A heel comprising a base plate, downwardly directed lateral flanges on said plate,

a stationary resilient cushion section secured on said plate and inclosing said flanges, a rotatable cushion section journaled at the rear end of the base plate, and means for attaching the heel to a shoe or the like without causing the rotatable section to bind on said plate.

2. A heel comprising a base plate, downwardly directed lateral flanges on said plate, inwardly and forwardly directed wings at the rearward ends of said flanges, a stationary resilient cushion section secured on said plate and inclosing said flanges and wings, a rotatable cushion sectlon Journaled at the rear end of the base plate, and means for 15 ber 1909.

GEORGE HADJICH. Witnesses EDWIN PHELPS, MARY M. DILLMAN. 

